At least 14 dead as floodwaters rage in West Virginia, governor says

(CNN) -- As heavy thunderstorms sent massive floods sweeping across West Virginia, at least 14 people lost their lives in the raging waters, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said at a news conference Friday.

Trees and power lines fell as heavy rains Thursday night into Friday sent creeks and rivers out of their banks, leaving many stranded residents waiting to be rescued.

Forty-four counties declared a state of emergency Thursday night, primarily in the southeastern part of West Virginia. Officials say Elkview, Clendenin and Frame have been hit the hardest by the floodwaters.

A 4-year-old toddler was washed away by rapid floodwaters in Jackson County, officials said. The child was playing with his sister behind their home when he fell into what was once a little stream, which had turned into an instant rushing current after the relentless storms. An 8-year old boy from Ravenswood was also killed by the violent storm.

Severe damage to homes and infrastructure can be seen throughout the state, residents said. At one point during the height of the storms, there were 64 active emergency calls in Kanawha County, according to county spokeswoman Brooke Hylbert.

Stranded at a shopping mall

The rain washed out an access road at Elkview Crossings Mall, leaving nearly 200 people stranded when a bridge that connects the shopping plaza to the road, collapsed under the relentless downpour, residents said.

The National Guard is building a temporary bridge to help expedite the rescue mission at the mall. An on going evacuation is underway, sixty people have been rescued so far.